Cradles of Early Science

Development of Science in
Mesoamerica
Central America to the border of South America
 Mayan Civilization
• Famous civilization that lasted approximately 2000 years
• Considered to be one of the most scientifically advanced societies in Mesoamerica
• Astronomy
• Build temples and religious structures
• Temples were use for astronomical observations e.g. Chichen Itza in Mexico
• Predicting eclipse
• Astrological cycles in planting and harvesting
• Measuring time using two complicated calendar systems
• First to use a writing system known as Mayan Hieroglyphics
• Skilled mathematics
• Created a number system based on number 20
• Develop the concept of zero
• Develop technology using ordinary machineries and tools
• Hydraulic system
• Looms
• Rainbow glittery paint made from a mineral called MICA
El Castillo (“The Castle”), a Toltec-
style pyramid, rising above the plaza at
Chichén Itzá in Yucatán state, Mexico.
Mayan Calendar
Mayan Writing System
 Inca Civilization
• Roads paved with stones
• Stone buildings that can withstand earthquakes and other disasters
• Irrigation system and technology in storing water for crops
• Calendar with 12 mons
• First suspension bridge
• Quipu – a system of knotted ropes to keep records
• Inca textiles
quipu
Inca Agriculture
 Aztec Civilization
• Mandatory education
• Chocolates
• Antispasmodic medication – prevent muscle spasms and relax
muscles
• Chinampa – land is divided into rectangular areas and surrounded by
canals
• Aztec calendar
• Invention of canoe
Aztec Calendar
Aztec Herbs used for medicine
Aztec Chimanpas
Development of Science in
Afro-Asia
Egypt Civilization
The pyramids and other advanced artifacts from ancient Egypt continue to awe archaeologists and archaeology
enthusiasts, but is it possible the ancient Egyptians had aviation? A wooden carving dating from the 3rd century B.C.
was found in a tomb in Sakkara (also spelled Saqqara), Egypt, in 1898. It was classified as a bird figure and placed
with other bird carvings at the Cairo Museum, until Dr. Khalil Messiha, a medical doctor and Egyptologist, saw in it
1969 and realized it looked like the model airplanes he made as a child.
Hathor temple at the Dendera Temple complex located in Egypt
Structures and Construction

The Egyptian structures are among the

largest constructions ever conceived and
built by humans. They constitute one of
the most potent and enduring symbols of
Ancient Egyptian civilization. Temples and
tombs built by a pharaoh famous for her
projects, Hatshepsut, were massive and
included many colossal statues of her.

Pharaoh Tutankamun's rock-cut tomb in

the Valley of the Kings was full of jewelery
and antiques.
The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids - huge structures built of
brick or stone, some of which are among the largest constructions by humans.
Pyramids functioned as tombs for pharaohs.
Obelisks were a prominent part of the architecture of the
ancient Egyptians, who placed them in pairs at the entrances of
various monuments and important buildings, such as temples.
 Navigation and Ship Building

The Ancient Egyptians had knowledge to some extent of sail construction. This is governed by the science of
aerodynamics. The earliest Egyptian sails were simply placed to catch the wind and push a vessel. Later Egyptian sails
dating to 2400 BCE were built with the recognition that ships could sail against the wind using the side wind. Queen
Hatshepsut oversaw the preparations and funding of an expedition of five ships, each measuring seventy feet long, and
with several sails. Various others exist, also.
Metallurgy
China Civilization
Inventions
• Anesthetic - third century found a wine that acted like anesthetic, and they also used herbs before the age of written history
• Astronomy
• Astrology - Chinese astrology and constellations were often used for divination
• Bamboo - They made most toys, machines, houses, and other things from bamboo.
• Blast Furnace - which was water powered
• clocks - The first clock that they devised was for astronomical uses. In the first clock ever, there was a puppet that would hold up a plaque that would tell the time. They also invented giant water
clocks, which rang every fifteen minutes.
• Crossbow
• Earthquakes - Designed with a machine called the Earthquake weathercock, which was a contraption that told them when and where an earthquake would come. This machine looked like a
giant six-foot bronze pot that had dragon heads lining the top, and ivory frogs under each dragon.
• Fan - which was mostly carried by women and soldiers. Most of the fans were made out of bamboo and silk. The fan was basically many bamboo spines sticking out in almost a half circle with
silk wrapped around it.
• Fireworks - invented in the T'ang dynasty. These were originally for shows, but later on they used them to scare of enemies in war. The fireworks were mainly small bamboo cases filled with
gunpowder, and a fuse was put on the side.
• Glider
• Harness - revolutionized agriculture by harnessing animals
• Hot Air Balloon
• Iron casting around the sixth century, when they mixed tin and copper together.
• Kites - which mostly children played with. The kites were most of the time silk squares, held together by bamboo. Created many things with bamboo, which made a lot of baskets and holders
and were really strong.
• Lacquer
• Mathematics - They invented the Asian Abacus. The main applications of mathematics in traditional China were architecture and geography. Pi was calculated by 5th century mathematician Zu
Chongzhi to the seventh digit. The decimal system was used in China as early as 14 Century BC. "Pascal's" Triangle was discovered by mathematician Liu Ju-Hsieh, long before Pascal was born.
• Gunpowder
• Porcelain
• Seismograph
• Silk - clothes, fans, kites, toys, paper, and lots of other things from it.
• Spaghetti
• Stirrup
• Wheelbarrow
 Medicine

Acupuncture and natural herbs

Paper
Compass
Gunpowder
Printing
 Indus Valley Civilization
• Mathematics - concepts of zero, the techniques of algebra and algorithm, square root and cube root. The origins of
Calculus.
• Astronomy
‒ The calculation of occurrences of eclipses
‒ Determination of Earth's circumference
‒ Theorizing about the theory of gravitation
‒ Determining that sun was a star and determination of number of planets under our solar system
• Physics - Concepts of atom and theory of relativity were explicitly stated by an Indian Philosopher around 600 BC.
• Chemistry - Principles of chemistry did not remain abstract but also found expression in distillation of perfumes,
aromatic liquids, manufacturing of dyes and pigments, and extraction of sugar.
• Medical science & surgery - Around 800 BC, first compendium on medicine and surgery was complied in ancient India.
• Mechanical & production technology - Greek historians have testified to smelting of certain metals in India in the 4th
century BC.
• Civil engineering & architecture
• Shipbuilding & navigation - Sanskrit and Pali texts have several references to maritime activity by ancient Indians.
• Sports & games - Ancient India is the birth place of chess, ludo, snakes and ladders and playing cards.
Plumbing system
Science and Technology in
Medieval Islam
Astronomy
Astronomy was important to Muslims for practical
reasons
• Astronomy contributed to navigation
• Observations of the sun and moon were used to
determine prayer times and an accurate calendar
• Large observatories were established and new
instruments such as the astrolabe were developed
Chemistry and Alchemy
Turning common metals into precious
metals, proved to be a dead end
around the 9th century AD.
Nevertheless, Arabs were clever
chemists and discovered many
chemicals that we use today.
Mathematics
• Islamic mathematicians built on the
work of Greek, Indian, Persian and
Chinese mathematicians
• Islamic mathematicians were
interested in different number systems
• Developed algebra and geometry
which was important in architecture
and other technologies
Medicine
• Islamic medicine was based on the
Greek model of the four elements and
‘humours’
• Disease was thought of as an
imbalance of ‘humours’
• Pharmacy, combining herbal medicine
and alchemy, was important
• Islamic law forbade dissections